Setting a Bulova watch is fairly simple, but the exact steps will vary based on the type of Bulova watch you have. All settings must be completed by manipulating the setting crown at the side or back of the watch, however.

Steps

Method1

Pull out the crown. Locate the crown at the side of the watch. Pinch it between your thumb and index finger, then lift it straight out to the side.

If the watch has a second hand, wait until the second hand reaches the 60th second mark (the 12th hour mark) at the top of the clock before pulling out the crown.

The crown should click into an "out" position without resistance. All hands should stop moving.

2

Rotate the crown. Spin the crown so that the hands of the clock move forward or in a clockwise rotate. Continue turning the crown until the hands reach the correct time.

Turn the crown toward you.

To prevent the hands from jumping when you start the time again, you should set the minute hand roughly five minutes ahead of the correct minute marker. Then, gently turn it back to the correct minute marker by rotating the crown in the opposite direction.

3

Push in the crown. When you finish setting the correct time, push the crown back into the side of the watch.

The crown should click back into place and the hands should start moving again.

Method2

Date and Time Models

Setting the Time

1

Pull out the crown completely. Locate the crown at the side of the watch. Pinch it between your fingers and lift it straight out as far as it will go.

Wait until the second hand reaches the 60th second mark (the 12th hour mark) before pulling out the crown.

Make sure that you pull the crown out as far as it will go. You should hear two clicks; do not stop at the first click. Note that all hands should stop moving when the crown is in its "out" position.

2

Rotate the crown forward. Turn the crown toward you until the hands of the clock move forward to the correct hour and minute.

Note that the hands should move clockwise or forward.

Turn the hands until you see the day and date change. As soon as these digits change, the clock is set to midnight of the indicated date.

Note that this date does not need to be the current date. You simply need to reset the clock to midnight during this step.

Continue turning the hands forward until you reach the correct time. For AM time, simply rotate the hands until they reach the correct time. For PM time, you will need to advance the hands past the 12-o'clock position once more before rotating them to the correct time.

To prevent the minute hand from advancing when you set the time, rotate it roughly five minutes past the correct time. Carefully turn the minute hand back to the correct minute marker by rotating the crown in the opposite direction.

3

Push in the crown completely. Use your fingers to push the crown all the way back into the side of the watch.

Make sure that the crown clicks into the watch as far as it will go. You should hear two clicks.

The hands will start moving again, indicating that the time has been set.

Setting the Date

1

Pull out the crown halfway. Use your fingers to pull the crown out to the halfway or intermediate position.

You should only hear one click. The hands of the clock should continue moving and the watch itself will continue to tell time.

2

Turn the crown. Rotate the crown in one direction until the correct date appears.

If you have a model that tells both date and day, rotate the crown in the opposite direction until the correct day appears.

3

Push the crown back in. Push the crown back into the side of the watch as far as it will go.

Method3

Setting the Time

Pull out the crown. Using your fingernail or fingertips, lift the crown straight out as far as it will go.

Wait until the second hand reaches the 12-o'clock mark before pulling the crown out.

You should hear two clicks; do not stop after the first click. Make sure that all hands have stopped moving before proceeding to the next step.

Note that some models may have a screw-down lock on the crown. If this is the case for your watch, you will need to unlock the crown by turning it toward you. Once it loosens, pull the crown out to its furthest position as usual.

2

Turn the hands by turning the crown. Turn the crown toward you to turn the hands of the watch clockwise. Continue rotating the hands until you reach the correct time.

You must turn the hands until the date changes, even if the date is not yet correct. Doing so resets the clock to midnight.

For AM time, simply turn the hands until they reach the correct time after resetting the clock to midnight. For PM time, you will need to turn the hands past the 12-o'clock position once more before setting them to the correct time.

Rotate the minute hand roughly five minutes past the correct time, then carefully turn it back to the correct minute marker by turning the crown in the opposite direction. By doing this, you can prevent the minute hand from accidentally advancing.

3

Click the crown back in. Once your watch shows the correct time, push the crown all the way back into the side.

You should hear two clicks and the hands should start moving again.

Setting the Date

1

Pull out the crown to its intermediate position. Pull the crown straight out until it clicks into its halfway or intermediate position.

Do not pull the crown out completely. You should only hear one click, and the hands of the clock should still be moving.

2

Rotate the crown. Turn the crown toward you while it is in its intermediate position. Continue turning until the date dial or window reflects the current date.

3

Push in the crown. Once the date changes over, push the crown back into the side of the watch as far as it will go.

You should hear one click, indicating that both the time and date settings are actively running.

Method4

Locate the crown on the back of the watch. Turn the watch over until the back of the watch face can be seen. The setting crown should be located on this back face.

Note that you may see two circles on the back of the watch. The smaller circle should be the setting crown. The larger circle will be the power cell and should not be handled during this procedure.

2

Lift the crown. Use your fingernail to lift the crown up and activate the setting mechanism.

You will need to keep your fingernail underneath the crown throughout the entire process. Do not release it yet.

Bulova models with a back crown usually have a sweep-style second hand. A sweep second hand will not stop once the crown has been lifted; instead, it will continue rotating recording the number of seconds that pass in real time.

3

Rotate the crown. Turn the lifted crown in either direction until the hour and minute hands on the front of the watch face show the correct time.

For this style of Bulova watch, it doesn't matter whether you turn the hands clockwise or counter-clockwise.

You do not need to worry about fine-tuning the minute hand, either, since it should not jump ahead when you release the crown.

4

Release the crown. After moving the watch hands to the correct positions, simply let go of the crown. It should click back into place, thereby setting the watch.

On some models, the crown may not click back into place automatically. In that case, gently push the crown into the back of the watch with your fingertip. The crown should click into place without any resistance.